Iran ready to help Azeri energy sector

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran is ready to forge closer energy ties with the Republic of Azerbaijan and transfer its expertise in oil and gas exploration and extraction to its northern neighbor.

In a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Rouhani stated that Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan share numerous affinities, which explains why Azerbaijan’s progress is very important for Iran.

He added that the further enhancement of trade and economic relations between Tehran and Baku can cement the interactions between the two neighboring countries, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to transfer its experience in various fields, including oil, gas and petrochemical sectors, to Azerbaijan.

Aliyev, for his part, termed the cultural, religious and social commonalities between Azerbaijan and Iran as one of the strong points in the expansion of Baku-Tehran relations.

The two presidents also exchanged viewpoints on current regional issues, cultural ties, the Iranian nuclear issue, and the development of bilateral business cooperation, and invited each other to visit their respective countries.

On Thursday, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Tehran Javanshir Akhundov said there exists great potential for the enhancement of the ties between Iran and Azerbaijan, particularly in the fields of culture and economy.

On January 12, Iranian Ambassador to Baku Mohsen Pak-Ayin said a parliamentary delegation from Azerbaijan is expected to visit the Islamic Republic in the first half of this year. Pak-Ayin underlined the need for the expansion of media ties between Iran and Azerbaijan in an effort to foil media propaganda aimed at hindering Tehran-Baku relations.

The Iranian diplomat also praised Tehran-Baku cooperation at regional and international levels, saying the two neighboring countries support each other’s positions in the international community.